We believe a better way is needed to accurately describe the spectrum of associated injuries that commonly occur in conjunction
with a radial head fracture. A review of our institution’s experience with 333 radial head fractures from 1997 to 2002 documented
88 (26%) associated injuries. Based on this clinical experience, our goal was to develop an accurate and comprehensive description
of associated injuries. A shorthand suffix method first recognizes the type of radial head fracture with the traditional Mason
classification, followed by abbreviations designating the articular injuries, coronoid (c) and olecranon (o), and the ligamentous
injuries, lateral collateral ligament (l), medial collateral ligament (m), and distal radioulnar joint (d). The proposed system
offers a logical and reproducible (98%) extension of the current Mason fracture classification to document the presence of
additional articular and ligamentous injuries. This provides an opportunity to standardize the communication of fracture type
with further details of other injuries that ultimately can help with better understanding of treatment outcome based on the
precise injury complex.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest,
patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study
was obtained.